Sexual Health Week

Sexual Health week 2019 takes place from 11th-15th February, focusing on the message that any sexual activity without consent is a crime. Sexual Health Week objectives are to raise awareness with 16-28 year olds about the no grey zone imitative that provides information around sexual consent and sexual assault, and to provide information about looking after your sexual health and promote trust services.

Valentine’s Day is an obvious time for everyone to think about the issue of consent and what it truly means. It’s an important subject for everyone, and one which if you’re not certain about – or even if you think you are – you should make it your business to find out more about it.

The NO Grey Zone campaign was launched in recent months and led by PSNI, supported by sexual violence charities, prosecutors, students unions at Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast. The No Grey Zone includes development of a website providing excellent information and sign posting to local support services.

Western Trust’s Health Improvement Officer Ann Linstrom explains: “During Sexual Health Week we will be working with a range of partner organisations to run awareness raising activities and disseminate resources providing information about consent, looking after your sexual health and sexual health services. Click the button to view and download our new information pack which we have developed to promote the campaign as well as consultation work with students about sexual health services.

Ann continued: “The Health Improvement Equality and Involvement Department in partnership with the Public Health Agency have been working this year to train practitioners who work with young people around sexual consent. This work compliments key messages from the No Grey Zone initiative as well as echoing messages provided by the Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) Community Facilitators who deliver work around sexual consent directly to young people in communities.

There will be promotional stands at each South West College campus this week promoting the campaign. Common youth have been in Omagh and Enniskillen campuses already, delivering talks on sexual health, and will be in Dungannon on February 22nd.

If anyone would like more information or requires resources that support sexual health week please contact Ann Linstrom, Western Trust Health Improvement Officer by email: Ann.Linstrom@westerntrust.hscni.net or Tel: 028 71865127.

Remember Looking after your Sexual Health is as important as any other aspect of your health.